Haughton is alive with the sound of music

A Haughton woman is sharing her love of music through a new family-oriented education facility for Bossier Parish.

Shana Houston founded the Haughton School of Music with a mission to train musicians of all ages in a way that will still honor valued family time. The Haughton School of Music accommodates different musical interests for everyone in the family by offering a variety of classes at the same time under one roof, thus giving families more time together in a busy schedule.

Brittany Bolton, 15, took her first private piano lesson at the new Haughton School of Music Thursday afternoon with owner Shana Houston. Bolton, a sophomore at Airline High School, has been a student with Houston for three years.

“Being a mom of multiple children, I know how valuable time is,” she said. “It’s my vision to have one place with multiple things going on so parents can get everything done under one roof in about an hour.”

Music has always been a big part of Houston’s life.

“I’ve never known a time when music wasn’t part of my life,” she said. “I grew up in a house with music. Someone was always singing or there was something always playing.”

Houston began playing the piano when she was eight years old then progressed into singing as a teenager. She went on to Louisiana Tech University, where she received a degree in vocal music education.

After two years as a music teacher at a public school in South Carolina, Houston decided to change her focus to private lessons in her own home.

“We started a family and that seemed to work around our schedule better,” she said. “It worked out well and I’ve been teaching privately for 13 years now.”

When her family moved to Haughton almost six years ago, Houston said it became her dream to open a music school.

“God put it on my heart then and it all came together in just the last three weeks,” she said. “This is something I’ve wanted to offer because it’s sometimes hard to find private instructors. A lot of people will drive to Shreveport, but this is a need we’re filling locally.”

The Haughton School of Music offers private music lessons in piano, voice, drums and guitar to all ages. Instructors currently include Houston, vocal and piano; Carl Harris, guitar and drums; and Justin Steele, percussion.

The Haughton School of Music will also offer music education courses, including subject like music history, music theory and lessons.

“My target is homeschool children and groups who want the same opportunities public school children get,” Houston said. “It will be held during the day like a normal music class would be at school. I love teaching and I enjoy doing this.”

Also available are Kindermusik classes, which focus on children ages birth to seven as well as classes for parents and children together. The is designed to apply musical and developmental learning in a multi-age, multi-child, family environment.

“Family Time helps children develop musical skills, as well as the social skills necessary to share, take turns, and strengthen the emotional bond among family members,” Houston said. “This is a great way for parents with children of various ages to spend time together, doing one activity as a family.”

A free Family Time class demonstration will be offered on Saturday, Aug. 10, at 9 a.m. Houston emphasized that there is no age limit when it comes to music.

“You’re never too old or too young when it comes to music,” she said. “Music is one of those things that just soothes the soul. You never know until you try it.”

A grand opening event has been planned for Monday, Aug. 19, from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Houston said the event will be a time to meet the instructors, take a tour of the new location and to learn more about the classes and lessons offered. Houston said new students can start when they are ready and there is not a yearly contract to sign.

Houston said she would like to add more music instructors to the school as well.

“I would love to see this place grow,” she said. “I know God has a plan for me and I am leaving my faith in that plan. I’m excited and ready to take this leap of faith.”

The Haughton School of Music is located at 4615 Hwy. 80 East, Unit 6 in the Country Village Shopping Center (between Stocky’s Pizza and Haughton Vision, across the street from Platt Elementary). Lesson times are available Monday through Saturday (closed on Sunday)

For more information, contact Shana Houston at (318) 390-6700, send an e-mail to HaughtonSchoolofMusic@gmail.com or visit their website at www.haughtonschoolofmusic.com

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